Although the Central Election Commission (CEC) calls it a “verification of results,” what is happening in the Municipal Counting Centers looks very much like a second counting of ballots.

The Law on General Elections stipulates that the counting of ballots for mayoral elections and the ballots of political entities in municipal assembly elections should be done at polling stations, while the counting of candidate votes is done in the Municipal Counting Centers.

However, even though the counting is conducted at polling stations as required by law, the same ballots undergo a process that, according to the CEC, is a “verification of results from the forms completed at polling stations,” intended to ensure the accuracy and integrity of the election results.

CEC spokesperson Valmir Elezi explained to KosovaPress that in the 38 Municipal Counting Centers, where the election process is moved after voting day, three important activities take place.

According to him, the CEC included the “verification of results” in the secondary legislation after the completion of the electoral reform in 2023.

“In the Municipal Counting Centers, besides counting the votes of candidates for members of municipal assemblies, according to the CEC Electoral Regulation for Municipal Counting Centers, the results from mayoral elections and the results of political entities from municipal assembly elections are also verified. After the approval of the new Law on General Elections in the summer of 2023, the Central Election Commission approved secondary legislation, which specifies aspects of organizing the election process. Verification of results in the Municipal Counting Centers from the forms completed at polling stations is an additional measure aimed at ensuring the accuracy and reliability of election results,” Elezi said.

If during the verification process in the Municipal Counting Centers it is found that the result of any candidate or political entity has not been accurately recorded on the forms completed at polling stations, the CEC has the possibility to correct this data.“In the Municipal Counting Centers, it is possible to correct results that have been identified on the forms completed at polling stations. This procedure is part of the control process to ensure that the real will of the voters expressed at polling stations is accurately reflected through their votes,” he said.